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Abstract

Exploiting admission thresholds in a Regression Discontinuity Design, we study the
causal effects of daycare at age 0–2 on cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes at age 8–14.
One additional month in daycare reduces IQ by 0.5% (4.5% of a standard deviation).
Effects for conscientiousness are small and imprecisely estimated. Psychologists suggest
that children in daycare experience fewer one-to-one interactions with adults, which
should be particularly relevant for girls who are more capable than boys of exploiting
cognitive stimuli at an early age. In line with this interpretation, losses for girls are
larger and more significant, especially in affuent families.